The price of getting a degree
The one thing I didn't have to worry about back then was student fees. Higher education was free back in 1979 (you can do your own maths on how old I am now). It never even occurred to me or my fellow students that we should be paying towards our degrees.
That is a freedom that today's students - and their parents - must look on with envy.
According to official government statistics there appears to be a real problem with getting northern students to go on to get a degree. Over the past 11 years there has been a 44% increase in the number of children in England going to university. Compare that with a 4% fall in the Blyth and Bedlington area.
That's why we sent actor back to school in Northumberland to find out why.
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We also conducted a survey to see if the prospect of up to £9,000 a year fees and running up a debt for the future would put people off. You can read the details on our news pages.
And as you'll see in the show (91Èȱ¬1 19:30 BST Monday, 24 October 2011), financial guru has a few tips on how to make it easier to cope with. We've a sneak preview below.
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Hi, I'm Chris Jackson - presenter of the North East & Cumbria's very own current affairs programme, Inside Out. Welcome to my blog where I'll reveal some behind-the-scenes goings-on and share my thoughts on the stories we cover.
Comment number 1.
At 27th Oct 2011, Helen wrote:I didn't go to university after A levels in 1980 as no one from my working class family had been and no one from school even mentioned it as a possibility (I got better results than many of my peers who did go). I can't believe that 30 years later, my son (bright and hardworking) is dithering about applying now for next year because of the massive jump in fees. When the increase was agreed less than one year ago it gave us little time to save extra towards the costs. I enjoyed Alvin Hall's piece about student fees and have to agree with William Cullerne Bown - who would sign for a loan when Parliament can change the terms at a future date? The government is sure to want the loans back sooner rather than later and will possibly sell the loans on to banks who will persue the debt on their terms. I want to help my son achieve his ambitions but the hike in fees from one year to the next is infuriating. AAARRGGGGHHH!
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